Kumaraswamy slams CM for anti-regional parties stand

Bangalore: JD-S leader HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday
slammed Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa for his
comment that regional parties are a big hurdle to development
and termed it as an "arrogant statement".

Kumaraswamy, a former chief minister who at one time ran
a coalition government with BJP, sought to remind Yeddyurappa
that his party has an alliance with "regional party" JD-U in
Bihar, while some states run by regional parties such as Tamil
Nadu are doing a good job.

"It`s an arrogant statement. He (Yeddyurappa) will repent
for it in the coming days," Kumaraswamy said.

Favouring a two-party system (BJP and Congress), the
Karnataka Chief Minister had yesterday dubbed regional parties
as a "big hurdle" for development.

Kumaraswamy stoutly denied Yeddyurappa`s contention,
stating his party has never come in the way of development but
added that whenever a Chief Minister or a government indulged
in illegal and corrupt acts, JD-S has opposed it and staged
agitations.

He expressed the view that given the current debate on
corruption issues, it is clear that national parties were a
big hurdle to development.

Kumaraswamy flayed Yeddyurappa for his statement that he
would expose the alleged misdeeds of the Deve Gowda family.

"If he (Yeddyurappa) has documents (about our misdeeds),
let him come out and expose. Who is preventing him from doing
so?" Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister HD Deve
Gowda, asked.

Kumaraswamy repeated his comments that the Assembly has
been turned into a "toddy shop" by the ruling party.

He said the comment was made intentionally and with
responsibility. "I am ready to depose before the privileges
committee, if called," he said, adding that he actually saw it
as an opportunity to highlight the alleged corruption and
wrongdoing by the BJP government in the state.